Nov 15, 2026
Yes, you can host a Minecraft server for free. The best known services are Aternos, Minehut and Minefort, and you can also run a server on your own PC. Free hosting is paid for in other ways though: you start the server by hand, wait in queues, watch ads, and the server switches off when nobody plays. Here is what each option really gives you.
Aternos
Aternos is the most popular free host in the world. It is funded by ads, and there is no paid plan that removes the limits.
How it works:
- Create an account on the Aternos website.
- Create a server and pick the software, such as Vanilla, Paper, Fabric or Forge, or install a modpack.
- Press Start. When many people start servers at once, you wait in a queue first.
- Share the address, which ends in .aternos.me, with your friends.
- A few minutes after the last player leaves, the server shuts down. Next time someone has to start it again.
Aternos supports plugins, mods and Bedrock servers, and you can give friends access to the panel so they can start it too. It is a great way to play with a small group in the evening. It is not built for a public server that must be online when strangers find it.
Minehut
Minehut offers free servers with a simple panel and a plugin installer. Free servers sleep when nobody is online and you wake them up from the dashboard. Minehut also runs a big lobby where players browse servers hosted there, which can bring a few visitors to new servers.
This row shows the Minehut lobby itself with the number of players online right now. If you want more memory or a server that never sleeps, Minehut has paid upgrades.
Minefort and other free hosts
Minefort works on a similar idea. A free server hibernates when it is empty and wakes up when you start it. Its paid plans remove hibernation and add resources. There are other small free hosts too, and their conditions change often, so read the limits before you upload a world you care about.
Hosting at home for free
Your own computer is the most powerful free option, because the server gets as much memory as you can spare. You download the server software, start it and let friends connect. The full steps are in our guide how to host a Minecraft server on your PC.
For friends outside your home you either forward a port on your router or use a free tunnelling service such as playit.gg, which gives your server a public address without opening a port. The PC has to stay on while people play.
Free cloud servers for experienced users
Some cloud providers have free tiers, for example Oracle Cloud Always Free. You get a Linux virtual machine and set up Java, the server and the firewall yourself. It can run a small server well, but it requires Linux skills, sign-up needs a payment card for verification, and free capacity is not always available.
The limits of free hosting
- Manual start and queues. Nobody can play until someone starts the server.
- Automatic shutdown. An empty server switches off, so it is offline for most of the day.
- Limited performance. Large modpacks or many players can lag.
- Ads and fewer settings. Some panels hide advanced options or Java flags.
- Backups. Check whether backups exist and how to download them.
When a paid plan makes sense
A paid plan is worth it when the server should be online all the time, for example when you want new players from server lists, or when you run a modpack that needs more memory. Small plans cost a few dollars a month. Our guide how to choose Minecraft server hosting explains how much RAM to buy and which features matter.
If you want a host that starts in minutes, Shockbyte is one option with ready installs for plugins and modpacks.
Can I list a free server on MineList?
Yes, you can add any server, including one on Aternos or Minehut. MineList checks every server regularly, and the page shows whether it is online right now. A server that sleeps most of the day appears offline to visitors and is hard to vote for, so free hosting works best for private play, while public servers should run all the time.
Frequently asked questions
Is Aternos really free?
Yes. Aternos is free for everyone and is paid for by ads on its website. The trade-off is the queue when starting and the shutdown when the server is empty.
Which free host is best for playing with friends?
For a small group that plays together at set times, Aternos is the easiest. If one of you has a strong PC that can stay on, a server at home with a tunnel gives more performance.
Can Bedrock players join a free server?
Yes. Aternos offers Bedrock servers, and Java servers on free hosts can accept Bedrock players with the Geyser plugin, if the host allows it.
Can I move from free hosting to a paid host later?
Yes. Download the world from the panel and upload it to the new server with the same Minecraft version and software.